Horses Gob Interview (November 1999)
Gigolo Aunts, though now living all over the place, are as Boston as they come. Their poignant, beautifully crafted and superbly executed power pop makes the Lemonheads look like, well, something very crap indeed. Check it out. Yeeeah.
Back in the early Eighties, you were known as both Sniper and Marauder - both pretty hard names. Did you have a punkier sound back then, or was it more an attitude thing?
When you're 10 or 12 years old, Sniper and Marauder just sound tough. If we sounded at all more "punky", it's probably because we sucked.
Why did you turn down the chance to play with the reformed Big Star, and how did it feel to be asked?
I was really flattered to be considered for the Big Star reunion, but we had already committed to going to Japan, and one thing that's always been true with Gigolo Aunts is WE DON'T CANCEL SHOWS. not if we can help it.
You've now lost two original members. Has that been disappointing, refreshing, liberating, or what?
It's always weird when things change, but if you look on the bright side, it helped us grow as a band, and the old line up maybe couldn't have made a record like this one. We're all still really close friends, so it wasn't that big a deal.
In its design, the sleeve to Minor Chords And Major Themes unashamedly recalls the Sixties. What's the reasoning behind that?
I wanted the cover to make a statement like "We are a rock and roll band, this is our new album". Simple, really. I like the look of a lot of 60's and 70's records, and I really wanted ours to look, well, not retro, but more like: "We are a band", you know?
Appearing on your album are both Counting Crows' Adam Duritz and Fountains Of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger. What do you like about them and their bands? And do you think you have anything in common with either?
Both Adams are good friends of ours, and I like and respect both their bands. I think we have something in common with both of them. In fact, I think we could easily be the step in between the two, musically. I'm sure if you looked at all 3 bands' record collections, you'd see a lot of overlap.
The album was recorded in January and February of 1998. Why has it taken so long to come out, does it feel very old to you now, and what have you been doing in the meantime?
The usual "label politics" and bullshit like that took awhile, so it was really just a matter of scheduling. I still love everything on it, and wouldn't really change much of anything were we to do it all again right now.
We've been touring almost non-stop since late Feb, and I've been trying to write some new songs.
Do you think you were ever part of a Boston scene? Do you live there? If you do, what do you like about it? And who, in your opinions, are the best Boston bands ever (feel free to namecheck Aerosmith and Fledgling, we love them).
At one point, in the early to mid 90's, we may've been a part of a Boston "scene", but I'm not sure if there even is one now. I live in LA, Jon lives in New Jersey, and Steve and Fred live in Boston still. The best ever Boston bands are: Scarce, Pixies, Blake Babies, Modern Lovers, Mission Of Burma, Big Dipper, Dumptruck, Christmas, Zulus, Cavedogs (Supergrass with a better sense of humor and catchier tunes!), Aerosmith, Boston, Gigolo Aunts (of course), Flying Nuns . . . too many to name really.
You've been at this for almost 20 years now. What was the lowest point, and the highest? How do you feel about your situation today? And what qualities have you had most to draw upon to get this far?
We've been at this more like 10 years really, but I think we've grown as a band and more importantly as songwriters. I'm proud of all our records, and we'll keep plugging away in some form or another until we've worn everyone down and forced them to love us! Right now, other than the usual label problems, I'm fairly happy with our situation. I'd love to have a huge hit (or 3), but that may never happen, so as long as I can keep making records, I'll learn to be satisfied with that.
Have you spelt Go-Go Jane Wiedlin's name wrong in your album's Thank You section, or are we thinking about two entirely different people?
I'm the world's shittiest speller, and not such a hot typist either, so it's indeed quite possible that we've misspelled sweet Jane's name, but yes, it is Jane from The Go Go's.
What ambitions have you fulfilled? And what ambitions remain, both personally and with the band?
I guess to have a hit, and a bit more respect for what we do. That's what I'd like for the band. As for me personally? Well, for starters, I'd like to be massively, stupidly in love with someone, and actually make it work. I'd like to learn to be more patient with everyone, and more tolerant of other people's opinions. I'd like to write a song that could melt ice, and I'd love to go to all the countries we haven't been able to get to.